Handle construction



Sept. 2, 1947. H KlDD' HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jam-4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 2, 1947.

I HANDLE CONSTRUCTION- Filed'dan. 4, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR, ffllwa rd 7671a flags.-

Patented Sept. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANDLE CONSTRUCTION Howard Kidd, Cincinnati, Ohio Application January 4, 1946, Serial No. 638,969

9 Claim.

This invention relates to a handle construction, and is concerned particularly with a foldable type of wire handle that may be applied with advantage to carriers for bottled goods, such as beverages and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrier with an improved type of handle construction which is simple, inexpensive, and convenient to manipulate in conditioning the carrier for use, for stacking, or for storage and shipment.

Another object is to provide an improved handle construction for a carrying device, which incorporates a normally flexible arrangement of links and means cooperating therewith to aut0- matically impart, rigidity to the handle structure when lifted and disposed to the operative use position.

A further object is to provide a normally flex ible handle structure of the character referred to, which folds flatly onto the body portion of a bottle carrier and about the bottle receptive openings thereof, so as not to interfere with insertion and removal of bottles, and which handle structure when released, falls automatically to a definite position of inoperativeness regardless of the presene or absence of bottles within the carrier.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle carrier, partly broken away, incorporating the improved handle construction of the invention and showing same in the extended or operative use position.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the carrier, on a reduced scale, showing the handle structure in the folded or inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the handle structure in the Fig. 2 position.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing the handle structure in the operative use condition. Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the handle structure as seen on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Bottle carriers of the type herein disclosed, I

are designed for use by purchasers of bottled goods at retail. Such carriers should possess certain characteristics and features of advantage to the storekeeper, the deliveryman, and the r.

promoter of the bottled product, as well as to the purchaser. For example, the carriers should be easily handled in shipment, and for the benefit of the deliveryman, the warehouseman, and the Storekeeper, they should lend themselves to vertical stacking in a minimum of space when filled With bottles. When empty, the carriers should be even more compact so as to occupy little storage or shipping space.

From the standpoint of the producer or pro moter of the bottled goods, it is desirable that the carriers be so constructed as to advertise the goods tothe bestpossible advantage, and they should be practicable, durable, and attractive in appearance. The element of expense of fabrication, of course, also constitute a factor of interest as it determtnes to some extent the cost of distribution and the ultimate profit realized incident to sales of the product. Accordingly, it is desirable that the carriers be designed and constructed for rapid production at low cost. The foregoing considerations, as'well as others to be hereinafter mentioned, have determined to a substantial degree the characteristics of the im proved bottle carrier-now to be described in detail, with reference-to the accompanying drawings.

The carrier comprises a horizontal top sheet member or deck 6 having opposite sides I and opposite ends 8; with two rows of bottle receptive openings! and I0 extending from end to end'of the carrier. The rows of apertures are spaced apart, so that between the rows there willbe provided a solid area I2 extending lengthwise, said area being adapted'to support a hollow hand grip element l3 in the form of an elongated sleeve, which formspart of the carrying handle of the device The hand grip element, as will be explained, rests upon the outer or upper surface of the top sheet member 6, only when the handle position, as illustrated by Fig. 2. The bottoms of bottles whose shoulders orbodies are supported by the walls of the bottle openings of the longitudinal rows 9 and I9, are normally supported by means of a bottom tray 14 which is hung from the ends of the top sheet member, preferably by means of hanger arms l5. The hanger arms may 1e integral with the bottom tray, if desired, and the upper ends of said arms may be welded orotherwisefixedly secured to the inside of a depending flange l6 formed at the ends of the top member, the securin meansbeing indicated at l'l'. The entire suspension element comprising the tray is and the hanger arms l5, maybe formed from a single sheet of metalor the like, and will preferably include side flanges It turned upwardly at the longitudinal side edges of the tray, these flanges serving to reinforce the tray member, enhance the appearance of the carrier,

and alonga horizontalline which'bisects the top sheet member from end to end. By so disposing the brace, it is prevented from interfering with the insertion and removal of bottles throughthe openings provided in the top sheet member. It may here be noted that the rows of bottlerecepr tive openings 9 and may comprise any desired. number of openings although for purposes of'il lustration twelve such openings are indicated; It,

should be understood, further, that if the carrier besdesigned to accommodate. articles other than bottles, the. provision: of ,rowsof: openings. 9 and lllrmay -be unnecessary or the top sheet. member may in that event be furnished wither. single large opening, provided. that sufilcient. metal remains for attachment of: the handle structure to the carrier-in .the manner to be explained hereinafter.

In the preferred form; of the device,. the, top sheet: member 6-is provided. with acircumferential' depending narrow flange 22, end portions of which are indicatedatl6. Intermediate the ends of the carrienthe side flanges 22 may be enlargedtso: as-to furnish depending aprons-or-diS- playvpanelss23', to ,which,may'be applied anysuitable advertising material or identifying indicia, relating;v preferably to. the commodity supported within the. carrier. The" aprons preferably: are formed integrally with the topsheet member. 6 anddts side fianges.22, and,wi1l be spaced apart in: substantial. parallelism. at; a. distance corresponding-tothe width. of the topwsheet. member. As illustrated by Fig. 2, the aprons or display panels are: spaced. apart a. distance greater. than thewidtha oi; the.- bottom. tray l4; although. it. is possible, of course, to-increase the-width of; the bottomltraytothe approximatawidthpf the .top sheetmember, should suchaconstructionbe. con.- sidered necessaryordesirable.

Thehandle. structurev to be applied to. the. car.- rieitassherein illustrated, .comprisesa pair. of up right, Ui-frames having spaced parallel. arms and. 2-5. These arms extend slidably. upwardly through. pairsofhandle. guide apertures 2(i-26 andi Z7-2ZL formed. in. the. material. of the: top sheet. member marginally (it its opposite. sides. The arms=24- and 25. are. provided at. their lower endsswithrstops or abutments underlying. the top sheet memberfl topreclude bodily withdrawal of the. arms upwardly. through the pairs of guide apertures.v Suchstops or. abutments conveniently-mayberimthe form=o connecting members 28 anddBformeddntegrally.with and spanning the uprightsarms 24- and 25.v It. will be appreciated, oioourse, that. arms.-24.and25. need.not be connected' together. at.theirs lower; ends, althoughthe lowenendswilhnecessarily includastops. or-abutmentsyfor thepurposerabove explained.- In the simplest. construction, however-sit isconsidered preierable tnprovidethe arms Hand Ziras int'egrallparts 0f.an upright Li -frame as shown.

Elia remainder of the. handle structure comprises the hollow. hand. grasp'or sleeve [3, and the inverted. U.-frames. 49. and 55 associated therewith. Eachptthe framesdilrand 50 comnrisesa pair. of. substantially parallel arms. 3d and 32 joined at their inner ends by means of 4 a connecting member 33 which preferably is integral with the arms 3| and '32. Connecting members 33 maintain a spaced relationship with the arms corresponding with the distance between the arms 24 and 25 of the upright U- frames, as indicated upon Fig. 3.

The arms of the inverted U-frames 49 and 50 have terminal ends 3 3 and 35 adapted to pivotal connectien'awith the terminal endsaBE-and 3'! of the. upright- U-frames, thepivotal connections being conveniently effected by shaping the terminal ends of the arms as eyes to be interlocked as.sho.wn.. The eyes formed by the terminal ends 34an'd35of the inverted U-frames, will preferably rest-.in' vertical planes traversing the width of the carrier, whereas terminal endsfiifand 31 rest' im vertical the carrier.

By. reason. of. the. hinge. eye. connections reierredLto the opposed. upright. U.-frames- 2. l'. 25. 2'82may lieelevatedlin theguide apertures 261-26 and 27-217- by. grasping. and liiting. the. hand grip i3 and" its associated inverted U.-frames 49 and 58., until. the stops or. connecting. members 2hiandl2loontactthe inner. or undersurfaceof the. top sheet member. Conversely, a lowering movement. ol tlie hand grasp. I fiiand'its associated frames 43' and 5B} permits. the. arms 24 and. 25 of'tlie upright U-frames to lower within thepairs of guide apertures. as. illustrated up0n F.'ig..2. so that. the frames last. mentionedlwilli depend ventically alongside the. aprons or. display. panels 23.Z3. Inthis. oonditionoi the handle. structure, the. inverted U.fr.ames. 48 and; 50; as- Well as the hand.grip-i3; r.est. upon or. in close. proximity with the outer or upper surfaceof-.' the top sheet. members. 6.. To achieve. this. result; the armscfframesfifl' and? 513: must. beno longerthan half the widthof thetop sheetrmember.

To. ensure the. maximum; degree. of. compact.- ness o the-assembly when the-handle structure is. foldedor collapsed to theEig. 2L condition,.the pairs. of guide apertures. are made. Ii-shaped of configuratiorn with the caps or. heads. of; the. T extending-.lengthwiseot the carrier, andithe legs 38' thereof extending transversely and= inwardly from. the side edges. ofthe, top sheet. member. This. term oiguide aperture. permits partial. entry of theterminal end? eyes. IrBZand. 37.. throughthe top sheet. member. at. the; heads of. the T.,. and partialentry of.'the terminaleyes. 34 and.35 at the. leg. oi each .T.; As; will beunderstood, a guide aperturelofeaclipair i'sdisposed. directly. opposite a guide member of the other pair of apertures, so. that the. handle structure will. be properly centered relative'to. the: topsheet member of the carrier.

When. thehandlestructure is lowered to the folded or collapsedmonditionof Figs.-.2 andr3r, no part: thereof williinterfere-w-ith'. the insertion and removal: oi; bottles through the= bottles receptive openingsof therows .Gsand: llhand more'over; the handle stnucture in that condition is loweredto anelevation- Well below the tops of allbottles projecting upwardly through the openings, so that a multiplicity" ofcarriers filled'with bottles maybe-stacked vertically to providean attractive display'requiring a" minimum of floor space. A'sillustratediby Fig; 3; the hand; grip member or sleeve I3" rests upon the top of i the carrier, alongthecentral' areabetweenthe. rows of. openings, .while thearmsof thesinverted U-framcsAQ and 59 extend between adjacent bottles of each the eyes formed by the of the upright U-frames planes extending lengthwise of row. This relationship of the parts is illustrated by Fig. 2, as well as by Fig. 3.

When the hand grip I3 is grasped and elevated vertically, it lifts the several frames to the positions illustrated by Figs. 1 and 4, at which the stop or abutment members 28 and 29 contact the undersurface of top sheet member 6, thereby making it possible to transport the carrier by means of the handle structure. In this operative or extended position of the parts, the hand grip member I3 is elevated above the tops of all bottles placed within the carrier, so that the unit may be transported with the greatest ease and convenience.

To enhance the effectiveness of the handle structure, so that it may readily be disposed to either the operative or the inoperative position, and to impart a limited amount of rigidity and substantiality when the handle structure is extended to the operative position, the hand grip or elongated sleeve 13 is furnished at its opposite ends with the extending lugs or separators indicated at 40 and ll. These lugs or separators extend outwardly between the adjacent arms of the inverted U-frames, so that the arms may not swing downwardly and inwardly toward one another, except to a limited extent as permitted by the lugs or separators. This condition of the frames 49 and 5B is illustrated by Fig. 5, wherein it will be apparent that lifting of the hand grip l3 will not permit further lowering of the frames 49 and 50 toward one another. The rigidity thereby established between the frames and the hand grip which embraces their connecting members 33, imparts a desired carrying stability to the handle structure, which facilitates trans-- portation of the carrier. It will be noted further, by referring to Fig. 5, that by releasing the hand grip IS, the arms 24-24 of the upright U-frames will be properly suspended for immediate gravitation through the guide apertures at opposite sides of the top sheet member. If it were not for the separating function of the lugs 40 and M, the arms 2'4 would not be properly poised for immediate slidability downwardly through the l guide apertures. As previously stated, in the operative or extended condition of the handle parts illustrated by Fig. 5, the hand grip member i3 is disposed slightly above the tops of all bottles supported within the carrier.

The carrier herein disclosed may be manufactured inexpensively at a rapid production rate, using common sheet metal and wire stock. It is constructed to withstand hard usage and abuse, and will readily be found superior in many respects to carriers heretofore constructed of cardboard, wood, and other types of materials. The carrier may be modified in various ways as to minor details of construction, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a carrier including a horizontal top sheet member having outer and inner surfaces with opposed marginal portions pierced .to provide two pairs of handle guide apertures spaced apart, an articulated handle including a pair of upright U-frames and a pair of inverted U-frames, each of said U-frames comprising an intermediate connecting member and a pair of arms extending substantially in a common direction laterally from the ends of the connecting member, said arms each having a terminal end, the arms of each upright U-frame being slidably extended upwardly through one pair of guide apertures at one side of the top sheet member, with the intermediate connecting member of each upright frame underlying the top sheet member, means pivoting the terminal ends of each inverted U-frame arm to the terminal ends of an upright U-framev arm, and a hollow hand grip in the form of an elongated sleeve embracing the connecting members of both inverted U-frames.

2. In combination, a carrier including a horizontal top sheet member having outer and inner surfaces with opposed marginal portions pierced to provide two pairs of handle guide apertures spaced apart, an articulated handle including a pair of upright U-frames and a pair of inverted U-frames, each of said U-frames comprising an intermediate connecting member and a pair of arms extending substantially in a common direction laterally from the ends of the connectin member, said arms each having a terminal end, the arms of each upright U-frame being slidably extended upwardly through one pair of guide apertures at one side of the top sheet member, with the intermediate connecting member of each upright frame underlying the top sheet member, means pivoting the terminal ends of each inverted U-frame arm to the terminal ends of an upright U-frame arm, and a hollow hand grip in the form of an elongated sleeve embracing the connecting members of both inverted U-frames, said sleeve including end lugs interposed between and separating the adjacent arms of the inverted U-frames, to limit and stop movement of the latter toward parallelism with one another.

3. In combination, a carrier including a horizontal top sheet member having outer and inner surfaces with opposed marginal portions pierced to provide two pairs of handle uide apertures spaced apart, an articulated handle including a pair of upright U-frames and a pair of inverted U-frames, each of said U-frames comprising an intermediate connecting member and a pair of arms extending substantially in a common direction laterally from the ends of the connecting member, said arms each having a terminal end, the arms of each upright U-frame being slidably extended upwardly through one pair of guide apertures at one side of the top sheet member, with the intermediate connecting member of each upright frame underlying the top sheet member, means pivoting the terminal ends of each inverted U-frame arm to the terminal ends of an upright U-frame arm, and a hollow hand grip in the form of an elongated sleeve embracing the connecting members of both inverted U-frames, said sleeve including end lugs interposed between and separating the adjacent arms of the inverted U- frames, to limit and stop movement of the latter toward parallelism with one another, the distance from each handle pivot means to the sleeve being approximately half the distance across the top sheet member between the pairs of guide apertures,

4. ;In combination, a carrier including a horizontal'top sheet member having outer and inner surfaces with opposed marginal portions pierced to provide two pairs of handle guide apertures spaced apart, an articulated handle including a pair of upright U-frames and a pair of inverted U-frames, each of such U-frames comprising an intermediate connecting member and a pair of arms extending substantially in a common direction laterally from the ends of the connecting member, said arms each having a terminal end, the arms of each upright U-frame being slidably extended"upwardlysthrough one pair of guide apertures at one-side of the top sheet member, with the intermediate connecting member of each upright frame underlying the top sheet member,

means pivoting the terminal ends of each inverted U '-.frame arm to the terminal ends of an upright U-irame' arm, and a hollow hand grip in the form of an elongated sleeve embracing the connecting members of both inverted U-frames, said. sleeve including end lugs interposed between and :separatingthe adjacent arms of the inverted Ll-frames, to limit and stop movement of the latter toward parallelism with one another, the distance from each handle pivot means to the .ssleeve 'being approximately half the distance of guide apertures, two rows of bottle supporting .means associated with the top sheet member spaced between the guide apertures, rand-a cen tral supporting area betweenthe rows to support -.t hersleeve when lowered into the top-sheet member,,-said supporting area beingat least aswide as the diameter of the sleeve.

.5.. In combination, a -carrier including a horizontal-top sheet member having outer and innor surfaces 1 with opposed marginal portions pierced to provide two pairs of handle guide apertures spaced apart, an articulated handle including-a pair of inverted Ueframes each consisting of a pairof arms having terminal ends and an intermediate connecting-member-ior the arms, a hand grasp in the form of an elongated sleeve embracing looselytherein the interme diate connecting member of both lJ-draines, otherlarms pivoted to and depending from'the terminal ends of the inverted U-frames, said other arms-reach extending s-lidably through a handle guide aperture of the .top sheet member,

stop means on said-otheriarms' beneath the top .sheet member to preclude upward withdrawal of said other arms from theIg-uide apertures, and :means on thesleeve to maintain a separated condition of the inverted U-frame arms, so that lsaidflframes may not closely approach parallelism with one another as the sleeve is lifted to an elevation-above the top sheet member.

76. In combination, a carrier including -a horizontal top sheet member having outer and inner surfaces with opposed marginal portions pierced to provide two pairs of handleguide apertures spaced apart, .an articulated handle including-a pair of inverted U-frames each consistingof a pai-r of arms having terminal ends and an inter- .mediate connectingmember for the arms, a hand grasp in the form of an elongated sleeve embracsleeve is, lifted to an elevation above-the top sheet member, the length of each U-frame arm being ,norgreaterthan half the-distance betweentwo opposed handle-guide apertures.

7. Inrcombination, a carrier body having op- V posed handle guides located at opposite side of the body, an articulated handle including a pair biinverted U-frames each consisting of a pair or .arr'ns having terminal ends and an intermenot closely apacross the top sheet memberbetweenthe pairs inverted U-frame arms,

grasp element embracing the intermediate diate connecting member .for the arms, a hand grasp element embracing loosely theintermediate connecting'membersof the U-frameaother arms pivoted to and depending from the terminal ends of theinverted U-frames, said other arms each extending slidably through the handle guides of the carrier body, stop means on said other arms-to preclude withdrawal and separation of said other arms from the handle guides as the last mentioned arms slide therein in one direction, and means on the hand grasp element to maintain a separated condition of the inverted U-frame arms, so that said frames may not closely approach parallelism with one another as the hand grasp element is lifted bodily to an elevation above the carrier body.

8. In combination, a carrier body having opposed handle guides located at opposite sides of the body, an articulated handle including a pair of inverted U-frames each consisting of a pair of arms having terminal ends and an intermediate connecting member for the arms, a hand grasp element embracing loosely the intermediate connecting"members of the U-frames, other arms pivoted to and depending from the terminal ends of the inverted U-frames, said other arms each extending slidably through the handle guides of the carrier body, stop means on said other arms to preclude withdrawal and separation of said other arms from the handle uides as the last mentioned arms slide therein in one direction, and means On the hand grasp element to maintain a separated condition of the so that said frames may not closely approach parallelism with one another as the hand grasp element islifted bodily to an elevation above the carrier body, the length of each U-frame arm being not substantially greater than half the distance between the handle guides at opposite sides of the carrier body.

9. In combination, a carrier including a horizontal top sheet member having outer and inner surfaces with opposed marginal portions pierced to provide two pairs of handle guide apertures spaced apart, an articulated handle including a .pair of inverted U-frames each consisting of a pair of arms havingterminal ends and an intermediate connecting member for the arms, a hand connecting member of both U-frames, other arms pivoted to and depending from the terminal ends of the inverted U-frames, said other arms each extending slidably through a handle guide aperture of the top sheet member, stop means on said other arms beneath the top sheet member to preclude upward withdrawal of said other arms from the guide apertures, and means on the hand grasp element to maintain a separated condition of the inverted U-irame arms, so thatsaid frames may not closely approach parallelism with one another as the hand grasp element is lifted to an elevation above the top sheet member.

EDWARD KIDD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

